Welcome to the June edition of our Global Logistics Update. As mid-year pressures mount, the global supply chain landscape is once again being reshaped by rising volumes, infrastructure changes, and evolving trade dynamics. From increasing congestion at key ports to growing inland transportation challenges and tariff-driven shipment surges, the logistics industry is navigating a complex web of disruption and demand.
South African Ports
South African ports play a pivotal role in both regional and global trade networks. Key ports like Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth handle most of the country’s imports and exports, serving as critical links between Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Durban in particular, is the busiest container port in sub-Saharan Africa and a major transshipment hub for cargo bound for landlocked countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. We expand below on the current field challenges at these key ports:
We highlight in these images vessels currently at anchorage pending berth at our three main ports. Port congestion and delays have been reported with Durban at 2 days, Cape Town at 5 days and Coega at 3 days on average.
Update on Transnet & UNTU Wage negotiation:
Transnet and UNTU have agreed to give due consideration to the settlement proposal as tabled by the CCMA in the wage negotiation process. Response from both parties to the CCMA is expected by 10th June 2025.
South Africa will dodge 30% tariff bullet – Steenhuisen
Ahead of the visit, there was clear agreement that South Africa needed to restore and rebalance its import-export relationship with the country’s second-biggest trading partner.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/south-africa-will-dodge-30-tariff-bullet-steenhuisen
Creecy announces R51bn guarantee for Transnet
“This programme aims to overcome operational, financial and governance challenges, hampering its ability to fulfil its strategic role.”
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/creecy-announces-r51bn-guarantee-transnet
Transnet and Grindrod strike R285m container deal
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed an agreement with Grindrod Eyamakhosi Joint Venture to develop and operate a container handling facility at the Port of Richards Bay.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/transnet-and-grindrod-strike-r285m-container-dea
Global Ports
Ports are the lifelines of global trade and staying informed on their status is critical. Port congestion, capacity constraints, and shifting transit routes can have ripple effects across entire logistics networks, impacting lead times, costs and more importantly customer deadlines. As container volumes surge in anticipation of tariff changes and infrastructure constraints grow, staying agile and accessing real-time information has become critical to maintaining supply chain efficiency.
PORT UPDATES:
Ports not mentioned under each region, experience minor berthing delays of 2 days or less.
AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
Angola/Kenya/Ghana/Ivory Coast/Nigeria– Berthing delays of 3-6 days experienced at main ports
Mauritius– Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Port Louis. Minor congestion due to transhipment routing
Tanzania– Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Dar es Salaam. Terminal gate is congested with ongoing equipment challenges.
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
For all Canada routings, both imports and exports moving over Europe; ICS2 filing is required. Services over our European hubs will be impacted by the congestion and delays currently being experienced in European ports. This will impact cargo lead times
Toronto– Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at this port.
Montreal- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port.
Vancouver- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. High volumes being experienced
USA
Minor berthing delays across all main ports.
With the current pause on the tariffs between US and SA, there is an increase in volumes being booked on this service. There is a recommendation to book with carriers four to six weeks in advance to secure space and loadings.
New York/New Jersey- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. Weather issues impacting port operations
Charleston- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port.
Los Angeles/Long Beach- Berthing delays of 3-4 days experienced at these ports
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/ramaphosa-underpins-importance-duty-free-trade-us
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil/Argentina/Mexico – Berthing delays of 2-4 days experienced at main ports.
*Reports of congestion and vessel delays in Buenos Aires with increased lead times.
*Customs services in Santos and Rio de Janeiro were affected by strike action in week 21 lasting up to May 23rd. This strike was part of a broader movement involving Brazilian Customs staff, related to ongoing negotiations with the federal government
NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN
Belgium/Spain/Italy/Germany – Berthing delays of 3-6 days experienced at main ports
France/Turkey/Netherlands- Berthing delays of 2-3 days experienced at main ports
* The situation in UK and European ports and terminals remains erratic as labour unrests and high levels of congestion continue to impact all logistics services. Capacity is a concern and movement of cargo and containers are suffering delays. Capacity is a concern and movement of cargo and containers are suffering delays.
UK – Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at London Gateway Port.
SA export services into Hamburg are being routed over UK. However due to delays in London Gateway, containers are being discharged in Southampton or alternatively where discharged in LGP; transshipments are delayed.
* All cargo moving via European ports is impacted by extended transit and therefore lead times, including transshipment services for LCL cargo as well as container transshipment hubs of Algeciras and Las Palmas. Rotterdam, Antwerp and London Gateway are the most severely impacted.
https://theloadstar.com/european-port-congestion-now-at-five-to-six-days-and-getting-worse
INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST
India/UAE/Sri Lanka – Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at main ports with Colombo increasing in transhipment volume, expected delays up to 2 weeks.
APAC (Including Oceania)
Korea/Qingdao/Shanghai/Ningbo/Nansha– Berthing delays of 2-3 days experienced at main ports including vessel bunching and port congestion.
*Carriers have cautioned that with the temporary moratorium on the tariffs between China and the US; it is expected that there will be a surge in bookings for this trade, which will see capacity and equipment being prioritised for this region. This will impact freight rates on all trade lanes, and we do expect to see capacity becoming tighter on the South Africa lanes
*We are currently seeing mounting space constraints across major Chinese ports, with congestion at Shanghai, Ningbo, and Yantian in the last month, creating ripple effects throughout global trade lanes.
*In most cases, cargo is ready to move since last week, but the first available space is the 14th June. Please expect delays in departures.
*Due to the Dragon Boat Festival, partners in China will be closed and returning to work on Tuesday 3rd June.
Singapore– Berthing delays of 2 days experienced with a 2-week transhipment delay in certain routings. Bunching of vessels experienced.
Boxport congestion spreads from Europe to the US and China
Port congestion seen across key Northern European hubs is intensifying and is now spreading to China and the US, a situation expected to worsen as a result of Donald Trump’s on/off tariff strategy.
https://splash247.com/boxport-congestion-spreads-from-europe-to-the-us-and-china/
Trans-Pacific services set for restart as carriers scramble to restore capacity
Ocean carriers are bringing suspended container services back to the trans-Pacific next month due to heavy import demand from China. Even so, capacity remains tight in the near term as some ships that once served the trans-Pacific have been redeployed to other lanes.
Carrier announces surcharges for ex-Asia SA cargo
Maersk has officially announced the implementation of a peak season surcharge (PSS) for cargo shipments from Far East Asia to South Africa and Mauritius, effective June 15.
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/carrier-announces-surcharges-ex-asia-sa-cargo
Carrier Service Update (13 – 27 May 2025) – click here
Port operational updates from around the world (15 – 21 May 2025) – click here
Freight News
We understand the importance of staying up to date with the latest trends, challenges, and advancements in our industry and we wish to highlight just a few articles which you might find of interest.
Transnet aims to move 250 million tonnes on to rail network
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/transnet-aims-move-250-million-tonnes-rail-network
Import activity picks up as April’s tariff threat settles
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/import-activity-picks-aprils-tariff-threat-settles
More pain for the steel industry after Trump’s latest tariffs
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/more-pain-steel-industry-after-trumps-latest-tariffs
DRC-Walvis Bay trade route in
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/drc-walvis-bay-trade-route-development-0development
Godongwana’s fuel levy hike to hit consumers hard
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/godongwanas-fuel-levy-hike-hit-consumers-hard
New services and reinstated blanked sailings boost transpacific capacity
https://theloadstar.com/new-services-and-reinstated-blanked-sailings-boost-transpacific-capacity
MSC confirms weekly continuation of SA-US direct sailings
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/msc-confirms-weekly-continuation-sa-us-direct-sailings
What are the New Tariff Levels?
https://www.translogisticsinc.com/blog/china-tariff-truce-may-2025
Police seize counterfeit goods worth R400m
https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/police-seize-counterfeit-goods-worth-r400m
Hapag-Lloyd faces uncertainty over Genoa terminal concession
https://mykn.kuehne-nagel.com/news/article/hapaglloyd-faces-uncertainty-over-genoa-termi-30-May-2025
Sources & References
Seatrade Maritime / Loadstar / Freight News / GoComet / Maersk / Openpr / Transnet / WeFreight / MSC / AfricaPorts / Container Statistics+News / Flexport / SACO / Hellenic Shipping / Worldcargonews/ Maritime Executive / GCaptain/ Linerlytica / Sea Intelligence / Splash247 / Freight Waves / Xeneta / JOC.